Outer Limits 4x4 Board

Hey guys...I have a '04 hilux with 5VZ-FE V6 and 4 speed auto , 97000k's, running 31" MT/R's. Bit odd having auto in a hilux but i know there is at least one other person on here with same setup.

I have never been overly impressed with the get up and go but was happy to live with it...but the weekend just gone i had the ute 3/4 full of camping gear and was pulling a trailer with trailbike and two swags, and the car was struggling big time on hills. No chance of holding any speed in overdrive, 3rd would only just hold 70-80kmh with serious engine labouring, and i occasionally had to knock it into 2nd to get it into some torque around 4000rpm just to keep from getting dirty looks from other drivers passing me. Hell my mates 4.2 N/A GQ was ready to overtake me.

Driving in soft sand pulls it up really badly aswell, i.e. the engine is REALLY labouring to turn the wheels in first low.

Im also getting shithouse economy just driving generally around town. i.e. 19L/100k's

Has anyone else with similar vehicle (prado/hilux) experiencing the same.

Does anyone have any suggestions of things to start working through or checking?

Cheers.

definately something wrong there mate, had a diagnostic check done my toyota? it use any oil? Few weeks ago got back from the simpson desert, did the whole lot in high range 2nd no trouble at all, even climbed big red in highrange, sand never looked like it would hold the car up at all.

My old 3.4 v6 got averaged around town 12.8-13 litres per 100km. manual, 32's MTR's and barwork.

something is wrong, get it checked out.

yeah the auto's drink bout 1 litre per 100km more than the 5 speed but not that much.

maybe you got an auto problem where it can put that power through to the rear diff, just an idea.

is the auto slippin?

leave the o.d. off - it'll do about 3100 rpm for 100kmh and will let you put more torque thru the auto box - in the long run when towing you'll use less juice.

Mine around town is around 14 - per 100. Having said that it'll use the 19 easy if you get up it all the time.

I tow an 18 foot boat up Fraser with mine and regularly use low range to save the box. Don't ask what the fuel economy is.

GBC wrote:leave the o.d. off - it'll do about 3100 rpm for 100kmh and will let you put more torque thru the auto box - in the long run when towing you'll use less juice.

Mine around town is around 14 - per 100. Having said that it'll use the 19 easy if you get up it all the time.

I tow an 18 foot boat up Fraser with mine and regularly use low range to save the box. Don't ask what the fuel economy is.

Overdrive was off...and as i stated above it would still drop to 70-80kph in 3rd and was really labouring to stay there.